*James*

Casey, Trisha, and Evan are here to visit while Paul brings Julia to the hospital to see Nate. Trisha is busy baking Julia's chicken for dinner while Casey plays with Maggie outside. Evan flips through the channels on TV and finds something sports related while I'm in Julia's room facetiming my sisters. Trisha set me all up, which was nice of her to do.

"Did everyone get over their pettiness?" I ask Gwen since I haven't talked to Ashley or Kendall since my probation meeting.

"Yeah, I think so. You know how they are."

"Oh, I know..." 

I knew it would blow over in time. It always does.

"Mom has been asking for you, though. I don't really know what to do about that. Like... do I bring her to you? You can't come here with your house arrest and all, and the other night, she flipped out only wanting you." Gwen tells me, and I feel a hard lump forming in my throat.

"Shit." I reply feeling absolutely helpless now. "Yeah, anytime. You should bring her by to see me.  It may be confusing for her, though."

"Do you think I could do that today? Like... now? She won't stop asking for you."

My eyes widen. "Right now? I mean, yeah. Of course. Trisha, her bodyguard, and Casey are here. Julia is visiting Nate."

"Thanks, Jamie. I'll get her ready. She'll be excited to see you." Gwen hangs up, and I sit on the bed. What the hell just happened? My mom is coming here? Today? Like right now? I should warn everyone. Trisha knows a little, but Evan and Casey sure as hell don't.

I quickly leave the room to find Trisha first.

"I, um. I think my sister Gwen may stop by." I start.

"Oh nice! She's so sweet!" Trisha checks on the chicken and starts heating up vegetables.

"With my mom."

I got Trisha's attention, and she turns to look up at me. "Oh. Are you ok with that? I mean..."

"Yeah. But she sometimes gets confused.

I have just enough time to relay what I want to say about my mom's dementia to warn Evan and Casey before Gwen knocks on the door.

Evan, being in bodyguard mode for Trisha, opens the door. My mom ignores everyone and heads straight to me while Gwen trails behind, shaking her head.

"Jamie!" Mom throws her arms around me. She seems distraught already.

"She is having a rough day. She only wants James." Gwen explains to everyone as my mom hugs me.

"Why haven't you come visit me?"  Mom looks disappointed. She doesn't remember I'm on house arrest.

I cast my eyes down, not want to trigger anything with my blue eyes, and Maggie makes her way to ma. 

"Have a seat. It's nice to see you. You look good." I say without looking at my mother and sit down next to her on the couch.

"Is he telling you to stay away? Is that what's going on?"

"What? No. Mom.." I look up at her, but don't seem to trigger her right now because she is talking about Joe, not thinking I am him.

"You don't listen to him. You come see me whenever you want. Don't let him push you around, Jamie." My mother continues talking about Joe.

"Ma. James can't, remember? He has to stay here for a while." Gwen intervenes, and I try not to look at Trisha or Evan's expressions as they sit in the kitchen observing. "We went over this."

"Oh, please. He's done nothing wrong. Tell her, Jamie. She's full of it lately." She laughs at my sister, who just rolls her eyes.

"Ma, you remember how I got in that car accident? How that lady made me go to court? Because the other driver died?" I try to remind my mother, but it falls on deaf ears. Poor mom is all over the place tonight.

"What driver?"

"Never mind." I say, feeling deflated. "You're here now. Right? Let's visit now."

"Can we watch TV?"

 I swallow hard, seeing my mom back to living in the past. "Yeah, sure."

I play the game as my mom looks around the room. "Where's my blanket?"

Does she think we are her house?? I look over to Gwen, who doesn't know what to say. 

"Mom. We're at Julia's. Remember Julia?"

But she shakes her head.

"Cheers, right, Ma? Want me to put on Cheers?" Gwen quickly grabs the remote and searches for Netflix. Nate set the TV up to have everything for Julia, though she hardly watches TV. I think he did it more for Paul.

My mom holds my hand and turns to the TV.

"See? You can still come by. Don't make me keep asking." She now thinks she is home.

We don't bother correcting her. She's too far gone. She's getting worse.

*******

*Trisha*

Seeing James interact with his mom is heartbreaking. I don't know her well but can already tell she is getting worse. She thinks she is home right now watching TV with James. I look over to Casey, who shakes her head and goes outside. Both me and Evan follow her, giving James and Gwen alone time with their mom.

"It's very common for dementia patients to get confused, especially as the day goes on." Casey sits down at the patio, and we join her.

"That must be so hard for him." Evan looks like he has never been around someone with dementia. It's the same look I have right now, but Casey reassures us it's normal. Well, normal for Carol Gallo.

"I can't imagine what they must go through every day." I sigh.

"That's why it's wonderful. Nate hired Claudia to be there. It gives the girls a little break here and there. Because when their mom gets like this, there's not talking sense into her." Casey says in a grateful way.

I think about James's life for a moment. He certainly has had his share of ups and downs, yet he handles it all so well. How!? He's the complete opposite of Julia.

We hang outside the whole time Carol visits but as she gets more tired after an hour, she begins to become more agitated. We left the slider open and can hear James and Gwen talking to their mom.

"Mom...  you have to go home so you can take your medicine. Claudia is waiting for you. The show ended." James explains to his mom. They got her here but now can't seem to get here to cooperate to go home. The beautiful brunette woman cries while sitting on the couch with her head in her hands.

"He's going to be there! You don't understand." Carol cries and I look over to Casey who is also listening. Evan looks up from his phone.

"Who is she talking about??" Evan asks with curiosity.

"His father. Abusive father. Very abusive father." I frown.

"She's scared to go home." He whispers almost to himself, and I watch the bodyguard's eyes sadden.

"Should I intervene??" Casey isn't sure if she should step in as a nurse or let them handle it. Both Evan and I shrug, not knowing the answer.

"Ma, Joe doesn't live there anymore. You're safe. This was a bad idea, Jamie." Gwen says. "She's not cooperating."

"Hey mom. Dad went to the store." James lies. "He isn't going to be back for a while. You should go home now before he comes back here."

James plays the game, and his mom thinks Joe is going to come here now.

"Yes. Yes, you're right sweetie. I should go. You know how your father gets sometimes."

"I know, mom. But you're safe. Gwen will take you home, ok?" James hugs his mom before she leave and Gwen practically pushes her out the door.

"Sorry. I thought it would help. I was wrong." She says with tears in her eyes, making me look away as they leave. James says his goodbyes and we all head inside.

Like his mom did, James sits on the sofa with his head in his hands. Evan walks back outside so James doesn't get embarrassed and I appreciate him doing that. Because when I sit next to James, he leans into me with his face covered and cries. I wrap my arms around my friend to console him.

"Timing is everything." Casey starts. "The later in the day the worse she gets. Sundown syndrome." 

James nods, apparently having heard this term before.

"I hate that she still thinks Joe is in our lives." He wipes his eyes and sits up straight in a manly way, thinking Evan was in here, but when he sees the bodyguard has stepped outside his shoulders fall in relief.

"She's really stuck in the past, huh?" I rub his back and he calms down.

"Has been for a few years."

"Next time, try having her come in the morning. Maybe with Nurse Claudia. So Claudia can be the bad guy when it's time to go home. We're used to that and never mind. It's easier for us to be stern verses a loved one." Casey pats James's shoulder.

"It's never going to get easier, is it?" He looks up at the nurse who shakes her head.

"No. I'm sorry James."

*******